WeWork to hold big pitch contest

Matthew Shampine, WeWork general manager in Korea, speaking during a VIP event held in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Wednesday. [WEWORK]

WeWork in Korea will hold the Creator Awards, a regional pitch competition, in partnership with the Seoul city government next February.

It is the first time the global office-sharing company is hosting the competition with a city government. Seoul is expected to help in the event’s promotion.

On Wednesday, WeWork announced the date and location for the Seoul Creator Awards, saying it will be held Feb. 28 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, eastern Seoul.

The award categories are performing arts, non-profit and business venture. Both WeWork and non-WeWork members can apply to participate in the competition, with a Jan. 10 deadline for submissions.

In the performing arts and nonprofit categories, winners will be awarded up to $72,000. The entrepreneur award will top out at $360,000.

”We are all looking forward to be blown away by the innovative ideas and projects of enthusiastic creators at the Seoul Creator Awards that will make a real difference in the world,” said Matthew Shampine, general manager of WeWork in Korea.

WeWork opened seven new locations in Korea this year and now has 11 buildings in the country. As of this month, it is an office provider to 1,500 companies in Korea. WeWork’s local team is growing rapidly, rising from 30 employees at the beginning of the year to around 160 today.

“In 2019, we will continue to open new locations, such as WeWork Seomyeon [in Busan] and WeWork Hongdae, accelerating our expansion into new areas across Korea,” Shampine added.

BY KIM EUN-JIN [kim.eunjin1@joongang.co.kr]